So I will start with a simple question. When you think of Christmas what is the first thing that comes to your head. Presents and a Xmas tree or Jesus in his manger? Society has given us this image of what Christmas should look like and be. It has become more complicated than it should be. However, since we were young we have been taught the true and real significance of Christmas.
My version of Christmas:
When I was younger if I remember correctly. Christmas was mostly about getting gifts. Even when I knew I was naughty that year I still believed I deserved a gift and I got one. The only reason my siblings and I would get excited for Christmas is because of the presents.
But when the presents started becoming disappointing then Christmas started becoming disappointing and the excitement and joy was lost. Our main focus was only on material things which dictated how we felt about the whole day. We had forgotten that we had already received the best gift anyone could have ever received. Our saviour Jesus Christ.
“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, (which means God with us)”
Matthew 1:23
These last few Christmas’s my family and I have started to refocus our version of Christmas. Even through my brothers are always awake first eager to open their presents they have to wait till everyone is up. As we now have a family prayer and a massive breakfast before opening any presents. And the house is normally consumed with the sound of carols and gospel songs on Christmas morning.
New outlook of Christmas:
Before writing this article I asked myself do I really know where Christmas comes from? So, I did my research and the things I found out opened my eyes to the bad, the good and the ugly of the day we call Christmas. It might not be a day we created or the day Jesus was actually born. But it does at least give us and the wider world a day to remember and acknowledge Jesus’s birth.
December, the 25 December should be a celebration of our saviour. The day he was brought into this world. Not the day Santa comes from the north pole to bring you presents. Think about it this way, December is our month to embrace our Lord loud and proud.
Spread the word of Christ:
The shepherds were told by an angel in Luke 2:11,
“Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you, he is the Messiah, the Lord.”
When the shepherds saw Jesus in the manger they spread the word and all that heard it were amazed. This is the one time in the year where you and I can go out and spread the message of God and Jesus without any scrutiny or judgement. It’s the most known story about our saviour in the world. We should embrace this month and take advantage of it. If schools that are not even religious can have Christmas pageants where they portray the Nativity scene, we should have no excuse for spreading the word.
Is it bad to enjoy receiving gifts on Christmas?:
There is nothing wrong with receiving and giving gifts. Even though it makes me really broke my purse and I may have a little cry for a few weeks. Giving gifts during Christmas is something that has been around for a very long time. The Saint Nicholas that Christmas originated from used to give gifts secretly to those less fortunate. That’s where the ideal came from. Giving gifts can be done in a positive and selfless manner. Don’t give because you know someone will give back to you. The wise men are a good example of giving selflessly.
“On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.”
Matthew 2:11
Those are expensive gifts! We are to be giving gifts as a sign of gratification. Instead of thinking about receiving, we should be thinking about giving. Not only to our family but to others who don’t have the money to buy things themselves. The wise men were wealthy people who gave to a little baby and his family. They didn’t know the enormity of the situation; they just saw a baby in a manger. But were moved to bring a gift for Jesus.
December should be a month of cheer and instead of being jolly we should be holy. Forget about ourselves and think of others as it’s a month where we are to remember our Lord.
We have come to the end of another year. We have had tests, troubles, joys and blessings throughout it. But we get to end our year focused on Jesus. He knows about trials and tribulations more than any of us, he had gone through it all and worse. There is a new year coming with new opportunities and blessings to come. We can only grow and learn from the past.
During this time, we are to focus on comforting others and sharing the greatest gift of all, Jesus. We need to remember and acknowledge that the best gift the world has ever received is the birth of Jesus. That’s true Christmas spirit.
Remember your true focus for Christmas.
AUTHOR: Kapungwe Besa